Folding chairs



Dec. 29, R. P. MaCNElL FOLDING CHAIRS Filed May l, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY fhm Zf if MW, M

ATTORNEYS R. P. MaCNElL FOLDING CHAIRS Dec. 29, 1959 .'5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1956 FIG.2

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FOLDING CHAIRS Filed May l, 1956 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Patented Dec. 29, 1959 FOLDING CHAIRS Robert P. MacNeil, Westerly, R.I., assignor to Aetna Steel Products Corporation, New York, NY., a corporation of New York Application May 1, 1956, Serial No. 581,896

Claims. (Cl. 155-139) The present invention relates, in general, to chairs of,

the folding type and in particular to foldable captive deck chairs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a generally simplified and efficient foldable deck chair of the captive type which, when in use, may be secured to the deck house or bulk head of a ship, or the like, and when not in use may be folded to form a small compact package which is suspended from the deck house so as to eliminate the necessity of providing any special storage facilities, cabinets or lockers for the chairs.

Another object is the provision of a captive foldable deck chair which, when folded, is automatically raised above the deck so as to provide a clearance under the chair for mopping or cleaning the deck.

Another object is the provision of a foldable deck chair which, although secured to the deck house or bulk head, will not ride up on the latter when the chair is folded so that the chair is at all times below the window sill line of the deck house.

Another object is the provision of a foldable captive deck chair which has both rear and front legs whereby the chair may be removed from and used independently of the deck house wall or bulk head and wherein the arrangement is such that during the closing or folding of the chair the rear legs automatically fold upwardly from the operative to the inoperative disposition thereof.

A further object is the provision in a foldable captive deck chair of a highly novel mechanism which permits for the operation of the chair to and from its open and folded conditions by a simple one-hand operation.

The above and other objects, features and advantages v of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a captive foldable deck chair, pursuant to the present invention, the chair being shown in its open or operative condition and secured to a bulk head or deck house;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the chair with the covering or webbing thereof removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and illustrates various positions through which the chair moves when being folded;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 and illustrates the chair in its closed or inoperative position thereof suspended from the deck house or bulk head;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, taken in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the area indicated by the numeral 7 in Fig. 2;

Figs. 8 through 11 are fragmentary detail views of the mechanism for raising the rear legs of the chair from the deck during the folding of the chair and illustrate various positions through which the associated parts pass during the folding of the chair;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 13--13 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 15 isv an enlarged fragmentary sectional View, taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a captive foldable deck chair Ztl, pursuant to the present invention, is illustrated in Fig. 1 in its open or operative condition on the deck 22 of a ship and releasably secured to the deck house or bulk head 24 of the ship. The deck house is provided with a conventional porthole or window 26 and it will be noted the top of the chair 20 is below the bottom of the frame or sill 28 of the porthole 26.

As here shown, the deck chair 2t) comprises a leg rest Sil, a seat 32 and a back or back rest 34. The leg rest 3@ is constituted by a U-shaped tubular member or frame 36. Adjacent the base or bight 38 thereof the U-shaped member 36 is provided with the support legs l0-40 which are pivotally mounted to the opposing side arms 42-42 of said U-s'naped member, as by the pivots 44 As best shown in Fig. 14, each leg 40 is also constituted by a tubular member, and is provided at the outer end thereof with a plug 46 preferably formed of rubber, or other non-skid material. The legs 40 are interconnected by a bar 48. The ends of the arms 42-42 of the tl-shaped member 36 are interconnected by a hollow tubular member 5b. A suitable covering 52, here shown as constituted by strips of webbing, is provided for the leg rest 3Q. It will be understood that the strips 52 are secured in conventional manner between the tubular member 5l) and the base 3S of the U-shaped member 36. For example, as shown in Fig. 15, each end of the strip 52 is wrapped about the adjacent tubular part and secured thereto, as at 54. A hinge element 56 is suitably secured, for example, by welding, to the end of each of the arms 42 of the U-shaped member 36.

The seat 32 is defined by the opposed tubular side members .58"58 which, at the front ends thereof, are provided with the hinge elements oil-6i), secured thereto as by welding. Each hinge element 60 is pivotally connected to a cooperating hinge element 56 provided on the U-shaped member 36, as by the pivot 62 to form a half hinge therewith. A tubular member 64 is connecterl at the opposite ends thereof, as by welding, to the hinge elements 641-69. At the other end thereof, each side member 5S is secured, as by welding, between a pair of discs 66 and 63, as best shown in Fig. 7. As best shown in Fig. 2, the inner discs 6S-6S, of the opposing pairs of discs, confront each other and a tubular member 'tl is secured at its opposite ends, asvby welding, to the adjacent disc d. The covering or webbing 72 of the seat 32 is similar to the webbing 52 of the leg rest 30 and is secured to the spaced tubular members 64 and 70 in the same manner that the webbing 52 is secured to the leg rest. lt will be noted that each inside disc 68 is similar to each outside disc 66 except that each inside disc is provided, on the surface thereof which confronts its companion paired disc, with a ring segment 74 Secured, as by welding, adjacent the periphery thereof, for a hereinafter described purpose.

The back or back rest 34 comprises a U-.shaped tubular member or frame 76 having the opposing arms 78-78 and the interconnecting base or bight Sil. A tubular member S2 is interconnected between the arms 78-78, being secured thereto, as by welding adjacent to the base Sil.

As best shown in Figs. 8 through 1l, each arm 78 carries a plate or member 84, which is suitably secured cured thereto, as by the pivot 90 which extends through the pair of discs and the member 84. An additional tubular member 92 is interconnected between the arms 78-78, as by welding, adjacent the ends thereof which carry the members 84. The covering or webbing 94 for the back rest 34 issimilar to the coverings 52 and 72 of the leg rest and the seat, respectively, and said covering 94 is interconnected between the members S2 and `92 in the same manner as previously described in connection with the leg rest 30. The base 80 of the U-shaped frame member 76 is provided with a pair of hooks 96-96 which are releasably engageable with a support rod 98 suitably secured to the deck house or bulk head 24, as by the brackets 100-100. It will be noted that the rod is positioned below the frame or sill 2S of the window or porthole 26.

j The chair 2!) is provided with a pair of rear legs 102* 102. Each leg 102 is formed of an angular member and is provided at its outer end with an insert 104 formed of rubber or other suitable anti-skid material. At its other end, each leg 102 mounts a shank 106 which is suitably secured thereto, as by welding, and the projecting end 108 of each shank mounts'a slotted transf mission member or plate 110. The shank end 103 extends between the pair of adjacent discs 66 and 68, the slotted member 110 being positioned therebetween and being pivotally connected to the inner disc 68, as by the pivot 112. A bar 114 interconnects the rear legs 102.

The chair 20 is provided with a pair of front legs 1164-116. As here shown, each leg 116 is pivotally secured to the outer side of a seat` member 58, as by the pivot 11S. Each leg 116 is formed of a'tubular member and is provided at its lower end with a rubber or non-skid insert 120. A link 122 is pivotally connected at one end thereof, as at 124, to each leg 116, and at the other end is pivotally connected, as at 126, to the outer side of the adjacent arm 42 of the U-shaped frame member 36.

Provision is made for a pair of arms or arm rests 12S-128. Each arm ispivotally connected, as at 130, -to the outer side of an arm 70 of the U-shaped back frame member 76. Each arm is also provided, at the underside thereof, with a bracket 132 which mounts a pivot pin 134 which pivotally connects the upper end of the adjacent front leg 116 thereto. In addition, each arm 128 is provided, in its upper surface, with a recess 136 for a glass, an ash tray, or the like. Except for the various fastenings that are required, the covering material and the rubber inserts in the legs, the various parts of the chair are made preferably of aluminum, or other suitable metal.

Fig. 1 illustrates the chair 20 in its open or operative condition with the bar .9S on the deck house 24 engaged by the hooks 96 so that thek chair is captive. In the normal opencondition of the chair, the parts or ring segments 74 carried by the discs 60 acts as detents between the frame 76 of the back rest and the rear legs 102, as will be apparent from Fig. 8 noting the position of the Parts in thebroken line position thereof. In addition, the half hinges constituted by the pivotally connected hinge elements 56' and 60, at each side of the chair, are braced by the links 122 and the front legs 1,16, as will be apparent from Fig. l.

1n order to close the chair it is necessary only to grasp the base 38, of the leg rest frame 36 so as to lift the latter. upwardly from the deck 22 and to move it toward the deck house 24. When the chair is lifted, the legs 40 al'arst foldedr under the leg rest- 30 by moving the connecting. barl- 48 in the,Y direction ofthe arrow 1n Fig. 3,

and as shown inY broken line position therein, so as to tuck the legs within the frame 36, as shown in Fig. 4. As the frame 36 is lifted, so as to fold the frame toward the underside of the seat, as shown in full line in Fig. 4, the seat is also folded toward Vthe back 34. The side members 58 of the seat, being secured to each pair of discs, respectively, cause the discs to rotate about the pivots 90. The initial folding movement of the frame 36 towards the deck house 24 will cause each pair of discs to rotate about the associated pivot 90 thereof, as shown in Fig. 8, by movement of each arm S of the seat 32 from the broken line to the full line position thereof. Since each pin S8 is engaged in the slot 121 of the associated slotted transmission member 110 in the open condition of the chair, and since each plate 110 is pivotally secured, asat 112, to the associated disc 68, it will be apparent that the movement of the seat members 58 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 8, from the broken line position toward the full linevposition thereof, will result in the arcuate movement of the pivot member 112, about the pivot 90, from the broken to the full line position. With the pin 83 engaged in the slot 121, said movement of the pivot 112 along said arcuate path will result in the movement of each leg 102, by its associated pivot 112, about the associated pin 38, fromthe broken to the full line position thereof illustrated in Fig. 8. Continued closing or collapsing movement of the chair by moving the frame 36 toward the wall 2d, as illustrated in Fig. 4, results in the movement of each pair of discs so that the main pivots thereof move along an arcuate path, as shown by the arrow 123 in Fig. 4, toward the wall 24. Consequently, it will be apparent that each leg 102 is subjected to a combination of forces. More specifically, the rotation of the discs about their pivot by movement of the frame 36 during both the original lifting movement thereof, and as a result of the collapsing or folding movement thereof, cause the side 125 of each slot 121 to bear on the pin 88 for effecting the movement of the transmission member 110 about the pin 88. This movement of each slotted transmission member 110 is aided by the previously described movement of the pivots 90 in the direction of the arrow 123, which results in each pin 8S being forced against the opposing edge 127 of the associated slot 121 forv continued movement of each transmission member 110, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 9, about its associated pin 38. It will also be noted that the vertical distance between the main pivot 90 and the pivot 112 of each' transmission member 110, as indicated by the arrow 128 in Fig. 8, decreases as the pivot 90 moves toward the deck 22 and as the pivot 112 moves away from the deck (viewing Fig. 4), as will be apparent from the arrow 130 in Fig. 9. When said pivots are in lateral alignment, as in Fig. 10, it will be noted that the pin 88, is about to leave the slot 121 and that the second pin 86 has just entered the second slot 138 in the associated transmission member 110. The side edge 140 of the slot 132 now bears upon the pin 86 and continued rotation of the discs, by movement of the members 53, causes continued rotation of each leg 102 about its pivot 112, as will be apparent from Fig. 1l, which illustrates the condition of the parts in the fully closed condition of the chair, as shown in` Fig. 5.

From a comparison of Figs. 8 through 1l, it will be noted that the rear legs 102 have moved or rotated through a much greater distancek than the'seat members 53, said legs traveling at a greater rate of movement than said seat members, and that in thel closed condition of the chair, the seat members are disposed against the sides 7S of the back rest frame 76, the legs 102 being disposed relative to the other parts of the'chair, as best illustrated in Fig. 13. In the folded condition of the chair, the latter being suspended from the rod 98, it will be noted that the rear legs 102 are` completelyy retracted from the deck 22, having Vbeen rotated from a downf wardly directed to an upwardly directed disposition, and that the discs are spaced above the deck provide the clearance indicated at 136. This clearance facilitates the mopping of the deck below the chair. It will also be noted from a comparison of Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 that the base 80 of the back rest frame 76 never moves above the rod 98 so that the chair never rides up on the deck house or bulk head during the folding thereof, and at all times remains below the frame or sill 28 so as never to obstruct the porthole or window 26.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes made be made in the idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A captive foldable deck chair comprising a back adapted for detachable suspension from a bulk head support, a seat, means pivotally connecting said seat with said back whereby said seat is foldable against said back, a leg rest pivotally mounted to and foldable against said seat and operable to fold said seat against said back, a pair of front legs extending downwardly from said seat to the deck and having an operative connection with said seat and said back whereby said legs are foldable at the opposite sides, respectively, of the seatin response to the folding of the latter, a pair of rear legs extending downwardly from said means to the deck, and mechanism mounted by said means for rotating said rear legs from the deck to an upwardly extending disposition thereof against said seat in response to the folding of said leg rest, whereby the chair will not ride up the bulk head during folding thereof and, when folded, will be suspended from the bulk head support clear of the deck, said mechanism comprising cooperating pin and slot transmission means on said back and rear legs and operable under the control of said seat for transmitting the folding movement of said seat by said leg rest to said rear legs for effecting said rotation of the latter.

2. A captive foldable deck chair comprising, a seat, a leg rest pivotally connected at one end of said seat and foldable against the lower surface thereof, a back having provision for the suspension thereof from a bulk head support, means pivotally connecting said seat at the other end thereof to said back for folding the other surface of said seat against said back, a pair of front legs extending downwardly from said seat to the deck and having an operative connection with said seat and said back whereby said front legs are foldable at the opposite sides, respectively, of the seat in response to the folding of the latter, a pair of rear legs extending downwardly from the seat to the deck, said seat having a pair of laterally spaced side parts each of which terminates on a pair of laterally spaced discs, said back having parts which extends between each pair of discs, respectively, each back part being pivotally connected to the associated pair of discs, each of said rear legs extending between one pair of said discs and being provided with a slotted transmission member which is pivotally connected to one of the discs of the associated pair, and pin means provided on each of said back parts for cooperation with the adjacent slotted member to effect the rotation of each leg from the deck to an upwardly extending disposition thereof at the lower surface of the seat in response to the rotation of each side part about its respective back pivot during the folding of said chair, whereby the chair will not ride up the bulk head during the folding thereof and, when folded, will be suspended from the bulk head support clear of the deck, and detent means provided on each pair of discs for engagement by the associated rear leg and back part in the open condition of the deck chair.

3. A foldable deck chair comprising, a first U-shaped frame which defines a leg rest, a pair of laterally spaced members which define a seat, a second U-shaped frame which defines a back, each seat member being pivotally connected at one end thereof to one arm of said first frame for folding the leg rest against the seat, means pivvotally connecting each seat member at the other end thereof to one arm of said second frame member for folding the seat against the back, a pair of front legs pivotally connected to said members, said front legs having an operative connection With said back and foldable thereagainst, a rear leg mounted on each of said means and extending downwardly therefrom, and mechanism associated with said seat, rear legs and back and opera-bie in response to the folding movement of said seat members toward said second frame for rotating the associated rear leg from said downwardly extending disposition thereof to an upwardly directed disposition thereof.

4. A foldable deck chair comprising, a rst U-shaped frame which deiines a leg rest, a pair of laterally spaced members which define a seat, a second U-shaped frame which defines a back, each seat member being pivotally connected at one end thereof to one arm of said rst frame for folding the leg rest against the seat, means pivotally connecting each seat member at the other end thereof to one arm of said second frame member for folding the seat against the back, a pair of front legs pivotally connected to said members, said front legs having an operative connection with said back and foldable thereagainst, a rear leg mounted on each of said means and extending downwardly therefrom and mechanism operable in response to the folding movement of said seat members toward said second frame for rotating the associated rear leg from said downwardly extending dispostion thereof to an upwardly directed disposition thereof, said mechanism comprising a slotted transmission member providing on the rear leg and pivoted to the associated seat member and pin means provided on the associated arm of said second frame and cooperating with said transmission member in response to the movement of said seat members during folding of the chair to effect rotation of the associated rear leg.

5. A foldable deck chair comprising a first frame which defines a leg rest, a pair of laterally spaced members which define a seat, a second frame which defines a back, each seat member being pivotally connected at one end thereof to one side of said iirst frame for folding the leg rest against the seat, means pivotally connecting each seat member at the other end thereof to one side of said second frame for folding the seat against the back, a pair of front legs pivotally connected to said members, said front legs having an operative connection with said back and foldable thereagainst, a rear leg mounted on each of said means and extending downwardly therefrom, and mechanism associated with said seat, rear legs and back and operable in response to the folding movement of said seat members toward said second frame for rotating the associated rear leg from said downwardly extending disposition thereof to an upwardly directed disposition thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,440,248 Shoemaker Dec. 26, 1922 1,703,969 Syvrud Mar. 5, 1929 1,724,220 Puccia Aug. 13, 1929 1,864,798 Bryden June 28, 1932 2,344,729 Ralston Mar. 21, 1944 2,410,088 Lundquist v Oct. 29, 1946 2,497,412 Larin Feb. 14, 1950 2,600,374 ONeill June 10, 1952 2,601,687 McNeill July 1, 1952 2,761,492 Rechler Sept. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 990,835 France lune 13, 1951 1,039,186 France May 13, 1951 

